Nursery bathette



July 19, 1966 L. o. PRowsE 3,261,651

NURSERY BATHETTE Filed July 7, 1964 United States Patent 3,261,651 NURSERY BATHE'ITE Lawrence 0. Prowse, 8005 Rothdell Terrace, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed July 7, 1964, Ser. No. 380,769 1 Claim. (Cl. 312-290) This invention relates to nursery furniture generally. More specifically, it relates to bathe-t-tes for bathing infants.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a nursery bathette having the appearance of a unit of furniture and having a decor which conforms to the furniture of the room. It is generally well known that conventional bathinet-tes having an appearance which is strictly utilitarian and not decorative and consequently do not enhance the appearance :of the room but actually detracting therefrom. This is, of course, undesirable.

Accordingly, another object of the present invention is to provide a nursery bathette having an appearance when not in use of a cabinet which can be made in various attractive styles to match other furniture in the room.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a nursery bathet-te having means to store diapers hidden from view.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a nursery bathette having storage space for various jars and containers of lotions, talc, cotton swabs and the like associated with the care of an infant.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a nursery bathette containing a tub which, in operative use, is supported upon the structure where it is normally stored, and which, in inoperative use, is hidden from view, and which is removable for cleaning.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a nursery bathette bearing the above objects in mind which is of simple construction, has a minimum number of parts, is inexpensive to manufacture and e'liicient in operative use.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the present invention shown in a position of operative use; and

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view thereof shown in closed position and showing a portion thereof broken away to show the interior structure.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, the numeral represents a nursery bathette according to the present invention wherein there is a cabinet 11 supported in elevated position upon a plurality of conventional furniture legs 12 which may be made in any attractive style. The bottom ends of the legs may contain conventional metal caps or casters 13 to reduce friction of the device upon a supporting surface such as the fioor or rug. The cabinet upon the legs is of generally rectangular configuration having a partial front wall 14, rear wall 15, opposite end walls 16, a hingeable top wall 17 supported on hinges 18, the top wall carrying a front flap 19 hingeably secured to the top wall and a pair of front doors 20 hingeably secured by means of hinges 21 upon the front of the cabinet. The cabinet also includes a bottom wall 29 and a shelf 23 thereof in spaced apart rela tion thereby dividing the area within the cabinet into an upper compartment 2.4 and a lower compartment 25. At one end of the cabinet there are a plurality of compartments 26 formed by means of a partition 27 which is parallel and spaced apart from end wall 16 and having therebetween a plurality of spaced apart partitions 2 8. Compartments 216 are open at the top to permit introduction therein from the upper end of various bottles and containers 29 containing various toiletries used in caring for an infant, such as lotions, talcum, cotton swabs and the like. Within the lower compartment 25 may be kept fresh diapers, towels, crib linens, infants clothing and the like, as preferred. Within the compartment 24 there is a tub 29 within which an infant may be bathed. The top wall has an arrest-ing rod 30 attached therebetween and one of the end walls 16 whereby the opening upward distance of the top wall is limited and whereby it is maintained in the open position when desired. The top wall front flap carries a knob 31 and the front doors 20 carry knobs 3-2 to provide convenient grasping means for gaining access to either the upper or lower compartments.

In operative use, the handle 31 is grasped and raised, thereby lifting the front flap and top wall, about hinges 18. Opening the top wall exposes the tub 29 located upon the shelf 23 which is in a convenient position for use in bathing an infant without requiring stooping or relocating the tube elsewhere. The tub is securely placed between the walls and partition of the cabinet so that it will not fall off accidentally during the bathing process. After the child has been bathed, it can be lifted from the tub, the front .fla-p and top wall pulled down again and the child placed upon the top thereof. It shall be noted that a thick pad of foam rubber comp-rising a cushion 33 is attached to the upper side of the top wall 17. Thus, the child is comfortably cushioned. The foam rubber may be covered with a thin film of plastic or the like to prevent water soak-ing into it. Without leaving the child unattended, the adult may conveniently open doors 20 to remove towels or diapers therefrom to dry and dress the child. During this operation, while the child is on the upper surface of the cabinet, the adult will find that the lotions and talc are conveniently located so that they may be picked up without the necessity of leaving the child, as may be necessary when using the conventional bathinette, wherein such toiletries may be kept elsewhere in the room.

Thus, there has been provided a nursery bathe-rte which will afford additional safety in bathing and. dressing an infant and wherein an item of furniture is provided offering decorative decor to any room.

It shall further be noted that the tub is readily removable from the shelf when it is necessary for easy cleaning.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall be understood that such changes shall be within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What I desire to protect by Letters Patent of the United States is:

A nursery b athette comprising, in combination, a cabinet, a plurality of legs supporting said cabinet in an elevated position said cabinet including a partial front wall, a rear wall parallel to said front wall, parallel spaced apart end walls, a hingeable top wall attached by hinges along its rear edge to the upper edge of said rear wall, said top wall carrying a front flap, said front flap being hingeably secured to said top wall, a movement-limiting device between said top wall and one of said end walls adapted to limit the upward and rearward movements of said top wall respective to said side wall, a pair of front doors hingeably secured by means of hinges to said partial front wall, a bottom wall and a shelf in spaced apart parallel relationship dividing the interior of said cabinet into an upper compartment adapted to store a tub and a lower compartment for storing diapers, towels and infant clothing, said front doors adapted to provide access to said lower compartment and said top wall and front flap capable of providing access to said upper compartment, a partition parallel to and being spaced apart from one of said end walls, a plurality of parallel spaced apart cross partition-s positioned between said above-mentioned partition and said end wall, and a pad of resilient material attached to the upper side of said top wall for cushioning a child, said pad being covered on its upper side by water-proof sheeting.

4 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,143,239 1/1939 :Fol tz 312-290 X 2,287,657 6/ 1942 Wisckol 312-42 8 X FOREIGN PATENTS 670,579 8/ 1929 France. 763,937 2/1934- France.

10 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

F. DOMOTOR, Assistant Examiner. 

